Chapter VII - What Happened to Us?
Holy shit this chapter.
I do not think I've had such a hard time writing anything like this in a long time and even now I'm pretty sure that this could've probably been executed a thousand times better. Nonetheless if I don't post the chapter now then I'll never get it out, at least this way I can come back and work on it more when I finally figure out a better way to do everything here.
Right, so first things first, Rika provides the point of view for about half this chapter and damn it still not enough, really need to write from her point of view more but my original plan of having just the scene with her and Takato left the chapter feeling lacking and unsatisfying in my opinion. I finally get to give you a concrete reason on the rift between Takato and Rika, though you'll have to wait until a later chapter to get to scene the whole thing actually go down - you will get to see the blow out eventually though.
It was really hard to write this chapter because I wanted both sides to at least be understandable and not try and give off the idea that one side is clearly more wrong than the other even though Takato probably is in this situation. At the same time I'm sure we've all had that one moment when something's had us snap and go off and one of our friend's has been unlucky enough to be around when he blow up.
Originally I wasn't entirely certain what it was I wanted to have be the source of the rift and I spent a lot of time trying my best to figure something other than Takato's temper being the trigger as I feel that slight outburst that birthed Megidramon and Takato's supposed temper are used far to often in terms of plot devices, among certain circles. Not as much as the Digital Hazard being given a stupid amount of importance in many stories compared to what it received in the show but that's a whole other rant for another day.
At the same time though, I can see why a lot of people spring off this buried temper Takato seems to have, as given his usually meek disposition, it makes the times his does get angry all that more impact full and memorable.
On the flip side of the coin we have Rika taking a few steps back, but still retaining a good chunk of the development she got later on in the shows run. She still cares a lot and that's partially her probably as it left her open to getting hurt and after getting burned she's justifiably hurt and angry but after the ass kicking they got last chapter she just doesn't want to spend what quiet time they have being angry at the boy who was her best friend for nearly five years.
The pair of them are both stubborn though and whilst Takato obviously wants to make up for past wrong doing, if blindly and unsure of exactly how, Rika doesn't want to risk a second burn and is reluctant but at the same time she can't really fight against what she really wants which, at this point, is to go back to being friends with Takato.
The ground work is laid and the pair of them are at least talking again, but any of you wanting for the romance aspect to pop up, just so you know, you're in for a long wait.
As expected the second half of this chapter is from Takato's point of view. Don't ask me were this working man sage Takehiro came from, all I know is that I like the idea and I'm rolling with if for now and I really like the supportive relationship he has with his son.
Not much to say on the part with Kazu, was kind of pointless but I also needed to do it eventually so might as well get it over with.
As for the ending... I'm sure no one is shocked by the 'twist' but in the grand scheme of things it's pretty small league compared to some of the stuff to come in the next half a dozen chapters. The purpose of this chapter was mainly to re-rail the relationship between Takato and Rika and bridge the next two chapters.